Baughurst pub/restaurant raises thousands of pounds for local hospital
High tech keyhole surgery camera to be purchased
A BAUGHURST pub/restaurant has raised thousands of pounds towards life-saving equipment for a local hospital.
The award-winning Wellington Arms, in Baughurst Road, has raised £4,326 for the Pelican Cancer Foundation after adding an optional £1 donation to the charity to customer’s bills over the last year.
“We had such a positive response from everyone, it was overwhelming,” said manager, Simon Page.
Spokeswoman for Pelican Cancer, Tracy Mitchell, said Greenham Common Trust had pledged a further £485, providing the final amount needed to purchase camera equipment costing £25,000 for use in endoscopic surgery, at the Basingstoke and North Hampshire Hospital.
“We are absolutely thrilled. It’s fantastic that they could raise that much money and that Greenham Common Trust could increase the amount for us,” said Mrs Mitchell.
“We want to purchase a 3D camera for keyhole surgery at Basingstoke Hospital.
“It will be part of a larger surgical laparoscopic stack used for minimally invasive keyhole surgery.
“This cutting-edge technology will significantly improve outcomes for bowel cancer patients having keyhole surgery.”
Mr Page said the restaurant would support the charity again after being approached by customer Penny Ericson and her husband Simon, following Mr Ericson’s successful treatment for bowel cancer at the Basingstoke hospital.
This was after Mrs Ericson wrote a successful cookery book, Meats, Eats, Drinks and Leaves, which celebrates local produce and pubs and restaurants throughout Hampshire and the Isle of Wight, and donated proceeds from sales to the Live Well for Longer Pelican Cancer campaign.
Mr Page and his partner, chef Jason King, also raised £550 for the Movember charity, in November.
The Pelican Cancer Foundation is dedicated to curing and improving quality of life for patients with pelvic area and secondary liver cancer through supporting clinical research and advancing precision surgery and treatment.